“We must promote rigorous study with honest and critical analysis, making it accessible to all and moving away from unchecked centralized rabbinic authority”

We must promote rigorous study with honest and critical analysis, making it accessible to all and moving away from unchecked centralized rabbinic authority. This move would necessarily subvert communal hierarchical structures that leave others, especially women, powerless and alienated. Everyone, who so desires, must be granted authentic access to the true law and true narrative. There is indeed a sacred responsibility for scholars to transmit a powerful transformative Torah that helps others grow, but in our day it must be with higher transparency.

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, “Holy Lies? Review of Changing the Immutable by Professor Marc B. Shapiro”, Social Justice Rav (1 June 2015) [http://www.jewishjournal.com/socialjusticerav/item/holy_lies_review_of_changing_the_immutable_by_professor_marc_b._shapiro]